Some of the 6,558 Laotian Hmong ethnic people in Phetchabun to be sent back to Laos have admitted paying 200 to 2,000 baht to those who helped them flee into Thailand, while the governor of Phetchabun says some gangs have brought in the Hmong for political interests and as a favour for drug gangs.

On Friday, Defence Minister Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya said he agreed with Interior Minister Chidchai Wannasathit that the 6,558 Hmong refugees had been tricked by human traffickers into coming to Thailand with stories that they could receive Thai citizenship or be resettled in the US.

Gen Thammarak has just returned from a General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Vientiane to discuss joint operations along the border to stem the flow of refugees from Laos.

Yong sae Tong, 51, one of the Hmong ethnic people in Phetchabun's Khao Kho district, said he and other Hmong entered Thailand by boat along the Mekong river by getting off the boats in Nong Khai and then being picked up and taken by chartered vehicles to Ban Nam Khao village in Phetchabun.

''Those who picked us up are Hmong, too. They charged us 2,000 baht for travelling and convenience. Some who had not much money were charged 1,000 or 500 baht each,'' he added.

The Hmong had heard that Thailand would help send Hmong refugees to the US or third countries, or allow some to settle down here.

Kaisuang sae Lor, 40, said he entered Thailand via Nong Khai so he could reside at Ban Huay Nam Khao, while Lt Jao sae Yang, 52, said he and 40 other Hmong had travelled along the Mekong river and entered Thailand via Nong Khai, paying 1,000 baht a head.

But Lt Jao refused to say where he had crossed the border for fear of causing danger to many other Hmong who were still hiding in forests and wanted to escape to Thailand.

Another man, Maj Wa sae Seng, 58, said 20,000 other Laotian Hmong people were still hiding in the jungle and wanted to flee to Thailand and let Thai authorities decide where they should go.

Several other Hmong who asked not to be named said they had to pay Hmong in Thailand 200 to 2,000 baht per head to pick up them at the border and also pay officials to allow them enter Phetchabun.

Phetchabun Governor Direk Thuengfang said gangs were probably earning their living from helping Hmong flee from Laos into Phetchabun.

He said many Hmong had flocked there and their number had increased rapidly from 800 to 6,000 this year, even though Phetchabun is not a border province. The gangs hoped their actions would have a political impact on Laos and help drug gangs, he said.